Lawrence Anini, also known as “Law”, was born in 1960, the same year Nigeria gained independence, to the Owuo family in Orogbo village in Orhionmwon region, about 30 km from Benin City, the capital of Bendel today’s Edo State, away, born. A 26-year-old thief has terrorized parts of Benin and several other nearby towns; With his five-man gang, which also included his brutal buddy Monday Osunbo, he wreaked havoc on civilians, police and banks. Lawrence Anini started as a taxi driver, then as a transporter for thieves and drug lords and eventually became a notorious thief who struck fear into the hearts of rich, poor and poor Nigerians.
During his career as a robber, Anini focused primarily on robbing banks and killing high-ranking government officials. During the trial, he allegedly accused Deputy Commissioner of Police George Iyamu of plotting the assassination of Assistant Inspector General Christopher Omuben, who was in charge of investigating Anini and his men. However, the assassination attempt failed as Anini and his gang only killed Omuben’s driver, a Sargent named Albert Otue, who was mistaken for Omuben. Otue was beheaded and thrown into a bush along the Benin-Agbor road. Lawrence Anini and his gang also killed Ms. Remi Sobanjo and Frank Unoarumi, who previously worked for the Nigerian Observer newspaper. On October 1, 1986, Anini attacked State Police Commissioner Casmir Igbokwe, who was mercilessly beaten and shot several times but ultimately survived the attack with several injuries. In the same year, sirAlso A.O. Emojeve, a doctor living in Benin, was killed on his way to the textile factory in Benin. Several reports revealed Anini’s tactics during his theft operations. He allegedly drove recklessly and scattered some of the stolen money on the road for people to pick up, thereby slowing down police who were pursuing him. Another report states that Lawrence Anini and Monday Osumbor donated money out of generosity and because they knew that Nigerians were really suffering.This earned Anini another nickname: “The Governor”. Anini’s popularity surpassed that of Ishola Oyenusi, Babatunde Folorunsho and other armed robbers in the 1970s. His fame reached its peak when he attacked several military personnel in October 1986 under President Ibrahim Babangida. This incident prompted the angry President to ask the then Inspector General of Police, Etim Inyang, the very popular question: “My friend, where is Anini?”
Failing to receive a clear answer, he ordered an immediate manhunt and arrest of Anini, Monday Osumbora and other members of the gang. This manhunt did not stop Anini from roaming the country spreading terror. During this period, various superstitions about Anini spread throughout the country, especially among children. Some say he drove backwards and at full speed from Lagos to Benin during the police chase. Some also claimed that Anini is a ghost and cannot be arrested by the police no matter how hard they try.But as the saying goes: Every day belongs to the thief and the owner owns a day. This saying applied to Anini on December 3, 1986, when his nemesis cornered him. Capture, trial and trial of Lawrence Anini Execution On December 3, 1986, Lawrence Anini was arrested by the police led by Police Commissioner Kayode Uanreroro at a house (No. 26, Oyemwosa, opposite Iguodala Primary School, Benin) in the company arrested his girlfriend for allegedly cheating on him.
Anini and his gang members
While trying to escape, he was shot in the left leg, which was later amputated in a military hospital.Osumbor and other members of the gang were also arrested by police and brought to court on Monday. Anini and his team, including George Iyamu, a police officer accused of working for Anini, were sentenced to death by Justice James Omo-Agege of the High Court of Justice, Sapele Road, Benin. During the trial, George Iyamu denied the allegations that he helped Anini. In return, an angry Anini, who barely spoke English, shouted from the back of his wheelchair: “Be a shameless liar, be a shameless liar!”
Lawrence Anini, Monday Osumbor and other criminals were executed by a firing squad on the 29th of March, 1987 and that was the end of Anini’s reign of terror in Nigeria.
